Longtime Iowa tourism leader and Unleash Council Bluffs Executive Director Mark Eckman is being recognized for nearly four decades of leadership, collaboration, and service within Iowa’s tourism industry.
Eckman will receive the 2026 Joe Taylor Vision Award during the Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP) Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on June 9 in Amana. The award honors individuals whose leadership and long-term vision have made a lasting impact on Iowa tourism.
Named in honor of the late Joe Taylor, longtime CEO of Visit Quad Cities and a respected tourism industry visionary, the award recognizes leaders who have helped strengthen Iowa communities and visitor experiences through tourism development and collaboration.
According to Iowa Travel Industry Partners, Eckman was recognized for his “steady, visionary leadership” and for helping advance Iowa tourism statewide throughout a career spanning nearly 40 years.
In addition to serving as Executive Director of Unleash Council Bluffs for the past 11 years, Eckman has held leadership roles with the Iowa Tourism Office, Ottumwa Area CVB, and the Villages of Van Buren. He also served as the first president of the Iowa Travel Industry Partners Foundation and helped establish the organization’s awards program.
“I met Joe early in my tourism career, so to receive an award in tribute to his legacy is beyond heartfelt,” said Eckman. “To be employed in travel and tourism is to help others live their best lives and attain the best version of themselves, if you think about it. Visitors travel for a whole host of reasons that can be very impactful: connect with family, enjoy a favorite performer, professional and personal development, philanthropic causes, and recreational activities, to mention a few. The bonus is that attracting visitors also translates into a significant economic impact for local businesses and their communities. I will be eternally grateful to have been a part of such a meaningful line of work.”
Eckman joins a respected group of Iowa tourism leaders to receive the Joe Taylor Vision Award, including former Pottawattamie Conservation Director and past Unleash Council Bluffs Board member Mark Shoemaker, who received the honor in 2024.
The recognition also comes during a strong year of statewide tourism honors connected to Council Bluffs. Fellow 2026 iTIP honorees include Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment (PACE) and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum.
“Tourism is powered by people who care deeply about their communities and the experiences they create for others,” said Chelsea Lerud, Executive Director of Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP). “These recipients are the individuals and organizations that consistently go the extra mile, and their work deserves to be recognized and celebrated.”
